9 Dude Ranches You Need to Visit in the USA
Dude Ranches began around the late 1800s as a place where East Coast city dwellers could escape to. Enterprising ranchers saw the draw of the West and began opening up their ranches to visitors. One of the first and most famous visitors to a dude ranch was Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt helped dude ranches gain in popularity as city dwellers longed for what the wide open West had to offer. It’s important to remember that dude ranches pride themselves on unique and authentic experiences and no two dude ranches are alike! Dude Ranches in the USA also have all-inclusive pricing with varies from ranch to ranch but typically includes all meals, accommodations and activities. Take a look at our 9 favorite dude ranches and choose the one that best suits you!
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C Lazy U Ranch
Located in Granby, Colorado about 2 hours northwest of Denver International Airport, C Lazy U Ranch offers a luxury ranch experience. At C Lazy U Ranch, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included. For dinner, you can expect to see Bison Tenderloin, Smoked Elk Loin, Grouper, and and Seafood Paella on the menu. The accommodations at C Lazy U Ranch include individual rooms and one to three bedroom private cabins. Activities include horseback riding, fly fishing, trap shooting, archery, mountain biking, ropes course with zip line, yoga, ranger tours, guided hiking, and more. Kids and teens ages 3-17 years old are broken up into 4 age groups and have the opportunity to do their own activities separate from mom and dad under the guidance of a counselor.
White Stallion Ranch
Located in Tucson, Arizona about 40 mins north of the Tucson International Airport, White Stallion Ranch is situated on 3,000 acres and continuously ranks as one of America’s best all-inclusive vacations. All meals are included at White Stallion Ranch as well as horseback riding, resort activities, daily and nighttime entertainment. Some of the activities you can participate in include hiking, shooting, archery, ranch rodeo, and rock climbing. White Stallion Ranch has 43 rooms and one 5 bedroom Hacienda perfect for family reunions. There are plenty of amenities for kids including a game room, sports court, playground, petting zoo, swimming pool and kids under 5 years old stay FREE!
Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
Located in Winston, New Mexico, about 4 hours south of Albuquerque International Airport, lies Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch situated amongst the Gila National Forest. Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch is a small ranch featuring only 4 guest cabins, however, there are over 3.3 million acres to explore by horseback in the Gila National Forest. All-inclusive package includes three home cooked meals per day, unlimited horseback riding and hiking, nightly campfires with s’mores, board games, and Western movies.
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Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch
Located in Yucca, Arizona, about 2 hours south of Las Vegas and 2 hours from the Grand Canyon West Rim, Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch is in the perfect location for some good old Western fun. Included in your stay are three meals a day served in the Hualapai Dining Room and weather permitting, under the stars in the desert! Stagecoach Trails accommodations are all unique with different decor in each room. There are smaller rooms that can fit upto 5 people and larger rooms that can fit upto 8 people., you can even spend the night in a Pioneer Wagon! Activities include horseback riding, archery, hiking, wagon rides, fat tire mountain bikes, cowboy action shooting and more.
Elk Mountain Ranch
Located in Buena Vista, Colorado, about 2.5 hours south of Denver International Airport, Elk Mountain Ranch is nestled in the San Isabel National Forest. Three home cooked meals a day are included which may be served in the dining room, a trail ride cookout, or even a a candlelight supper. You can choose to stay in a lodge room, private cabin, or a spacious suite in the main lodge. Activities included in your stay include white water rafting, fishing, trap shooting, marksmanship, horseback riding, archery, mountain biking, excursion to Brown’s Canyon Adventure Park and a children’s program for ages 3-7 years old. Elk Mountain Ranch also offers several “Adult Only” weeks where a maximum of 20 guests stay at the ranch and the focus is on riding and relaxation.
Concho Hills Ranch
Located near the San Mateo Mountains in New Mexico, about 2 hours southwest of the Albuquerque International Airport, Concho Hills regularly wins awards for their food, accommodations, activities, and horseback riding. Concho Hills is a smaller resort with only 7 guest rooms which are all decorated in their unique “turn of the century” ranch style antique furniture. Included in the all inclusive rate are three meals which focuses on Western traditional foods and New Mexico fare, activities such as horseback riding, roping, whip cracking, shooting and historical tours.
The Resort at Paws Up
Located in Greenough, Montana, about 45 mins east of the Missoula International Airport, sits a luxury resort surrounded by 37,000 acres of working cattle ranch. Accommodations include luxury homes as well as luxury glamping options. The Resort at Paws Up offers different all-inclusive packages depending on the season you visit but all include three meals a day, a selection of wine, beer and liquor, and a resort credit to enjoy activities. These activities include hiking, fly fishing, helicopter tours, hot air balloon rides, and more.
The Red Rock Ranch
Located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park and Yellow Stone National Park are a short drive from The Red Rock Ranch. Accommodations come in the form of one, two, and three bedroom authentic log cabins for a total of 35 guests maximum occupancy at the ranch. Three meals per day of authentic dude ranch cuisine with a gourmet flare featuring buffalo tenderloin, smoked brisket, rack of venison, and seared duck is included. Also on site is a Saloon with a full liquor license with an impressive list of wine, beer, and spirits available for purchase. Included activities are horseback riding, fishing, hiking, square dancing, and campfires.
Vista Verde Ranch
Located in Clark, Colorado, about 3.5 hours northwest of Denver International Airport, Vista Verde Ranch sits on 600 acres and is surrounded by the 1.1 million acre Routt National Forest. Accommodations are comprised of 3 lodge rooms and 12 cabins ranging in size from one to four bedrooms. Aside from your three daily meals which are included, you can also sign up for cooking classes and wine tastings. Activities include fly fishing, archery, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, yoga, and paddle boarding.
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